Tray table



Oct. 31, 1967 J. J. HAMiLTOEWB ETAL TRAY TABLE Filed June 30, 1966 3 Sheets--Sheet l JOHN J. HAM l LTON BY CHARLE$ E. SCHROER ATTQRNEYS Oct 1967 J. J. P-MMHJHDN PET/mm TRAY TABLE Filed June 50. 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENI'OHEFI d. HAMflLTON CMARLES E. SCHROER ATTORNEYS 1967 J. J. HAMHLTQN ETAL B BQQJZY TRAY TABLE Filed June so, 1966 5 sheets-sheet 5 INVENTORS JOHN J. HAMILTCN BY CHARLES E. SCHROER ORNJEIYS United States Patent 3,349,727 TRAY TABLE John J. Hamilton and Charles E. Schroer, Columbus, Ind., assignors to Hamilton 'Cosco, Inc., Columbus,

Ind., a corporation of Indiana Filed lune 30, 1966, Ser. No. 561,988 6 Claims. (Cl. 108-119) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a tray table and has for its objects the provision of a table which will be of attractive appearance, which can be easily moved between a compact collapsed position and extended operative positions, which can be easily moved between a pair of dilferent operative positions in which its tray is supported at different orientations with respect to the floor, which will permit the .tray to be easily removed therefrom and remounted thereon, and which will prove sturdy and durable in use.

In accordance with the preferred form of the invention there is provided a tray table having first and second intersecting leg frames pivotally interconnected at their points of intersection. Each of said frames comprises a pair of laterally spaced legs interconnected at their upper ends by a transverse bight upon which a tray is removably mounted. The legs on said first frame are shorter than the legs on said second frame, and the distance between the upper face of the bight on said first frame and said transverse axis is less than the distance between the lower face of the bight on said second frame and transverse axis, whereby said frames are foldable into collapsed position lying substantially in the same plane. The portions of the legs on both frames below said transverse axis are curved in the same direction, whereby upon movement of said first frame with respect to said second frame in one direction the table can be erected with its tray disposed in a position parallel to the floor and upon movement of said first frame with respect to said second frame in an opposite direction the table can be erected with its tray disposed in a position at an angle to the floor.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the more detailed description which follows and from the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a tray table embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the table shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the table shown in FIG. 1, but showing said table erected in an operative position to dispose the tray at an angle to the floor;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the table shown in FIG. 1 but showing said table in collapsed position;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic representation showing the table in its two extended positions of adjustment.

As shown in FIG. 1, our table comprises a pair of intersecting leg frames 10 and 12 conveniently formed from metal-tubing. Frame 10 includes a pair of laterally spaced legs 13 interconnected at their upper ends by a transverse bight 14. Frame 12 includes a pair of laterally spaced legs 16 disposed laterally outwardly of the legs 13 and interconnected at their upper ends by a transverse bight 18. Conveniently, resilient end caps 19 are mounted on the lower ends of legs 13 and 16. The legs 13 and 16 at the sides of the table are pivotally interconnected by pins 20 extending through said legs and through spacers 22 interposed between the adjacent leg faces.

The bights 14 and 18 serve as a pair of spaced supports for a tray 24 conveniently formed. as a plastic molding, sheet-metal stamping, or the like. As shown in FIG. 5, said tray is provided with a downwardly projecting peripheral skirt 25 and a downwardly dished central portion 26. Two rows of aligned clips 28 are mounted, as by fasteners 29, on the lower face of the tray for removably mounting it on the bights 14 and 18. Each of said clips is identical in construction and comprises a base portion 30 seated against the lower face of the tray and a pair of spaced, arcuate, downwardly projecting fingers 32 which act in combination with the lower face of the base 30 to define an open sided circular opening 34. Thus, the ends of the fingers 32 may be spread apartto permit the clips 28 to be resiliently snapped over the bights 14 and 18 with said bights being received in the clip openings 34.

As is best shown in FIG. 4, the legs 13 are shorter than legs 16, with the distance between the pins 20 and the upper face of bight 14 being less than the distance between said pins and the lower face of bight 18. This permits the frames 10 and 12, when tray 24 is removed from bight 14, to be moved into a collapsed position with the legs 13 and 16 lying in the same vertical plane. With the frames in this collapsed position, one pair of the clips 28 can swing about the axis of bight 18 so that the tray 24 will lay against the collapsed upper portions of the legs 13 and 16.

The length of the legs 13 below pins 20 is equal to the length of the legs 16 below said pins. These lower portions of both legs 13 and 16 are slightly curved in the same direction. Thus, when the table is erected by mov ing frame 10 in a direction to dispose its bight 14 to the right of bight 18 (as viewed in FIG. 6), the angle on the lower portions of legs 13 and 16 will permit the bights 14 and 18 to be disposed equal vertical distances from the floor for thus supporting the tray 24 in a position parallel to the floor as shown in full .lines in FIG. 6. However, when frame 10 is swung through the plane of frame 12 so that the bight 14 is to the left of bight 18 (as viewed in FIG. 6), the bight 14 swings on are A and bight 18 swings on arc B so that the angle of the lower portions of legs 13 and 16 causes the extended upper portions of legs 16 to dispose bight 18 a greater vertical distance from the floor than bight 14 to thus dispose the tray 24 at an angle with respect to the floor as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 6. With the tray .24 in this tilted position shown in FIG. 3 and in dotted lines in FIG. 6, the table can be more easily employed as a writing table or the like.

In order to facilitate swinging movement of the frame 10 with respect to frame 12, bight 14 has a transverse stretch of its bight bent inwardly, as at 40, to thus provide a finger grip for swinging frame 10 with respect to frame 12. Conveniently, stretch 40 is on the same side of bight 14 as is the direction of curvature of lower portion of legs 14. In this manner, the user can slip his fingers into stretch 40 to swing frame 10 outwardly to erect the table into the position most commonly used, namely, the position shown in FIG. 2 and in full lines in FIG. 6 wherein the tray 24 is parallel to the floor.

It is to be understood, of course, that in moving the frames 10 and 12 to and from their operative positions and to and from their collapsed position, tray 24 will have to be removed from one or both of bights 14 and 18 depending upon the positions to and from which the table is moved. Further, by removing tray 24 from the frames, it can conveniently serve as a serving tray.

We claim:

1. A tray table comprising a first frame having a pair of legs interconnected at their upper ends by a transverse bight, a second frame having a pair of legs disposed laterally outwardly of the legs on said first frame and interconnected at their upper ends by a transverse bight, a tray removably mounted on the bights on said frames, means pivotally interconnecting the legs on said frames on a transverse axis, the distance between said means and the upper face of the bight on said first frame being less than the distance between said means and the lower face of the bight on said second frame, and the legs on said frames being curved in the same direction below said means.

2. A tray table as set forth in claim 1 in which the portions of the legs on said first and second frames below said :means are of equal length.

3. A tray table as set forth in claim 1 in which said tray is swingably mountable on said bights.

4. A tray table as set forth in claim 1 in which a transverse stretch of the bight on said first frame is recessed inwardly on the same side of the frame as the direction in which the legs are curved.

5. A tray table, compn'sing a first frame having a pair of legs interconnected at their upper ends by a transverse bight, a second frame having a pair of legs disposed laterally outwardly of the legs on said first frame and inter-connected at their upper ends by a transverse bight, a tray removably mounted on the bights on said frames, means pivotally interconnecting the legs on said frames on a transverse axis, the legs on said frames being curved in the same direction and the legs on said first frame being shorter than the legs on said second frame, and said means interconnecting the legs on said frames in a position whereby said first frame is swingable through the plane of said second frame.

6. A tray table, comprising a pair of generally U- shaped leg frames of equal lengths having their lower ends curved in the same direction, a tray removably supported on the upper ends of said frames, and means pivotally interconnecting said frames whereby one of said frames is swingable through the plane of the other between a first position in which its upper end is disposed on one side of the upper end of the other frame for supporting the tray in a first position of adjustment, a second position in which its upper end is disposed on the opposite side of the upper end of the other frame for supporting the tray in a second position of adjustment, and a third position in which the upper ends of the frames are in the same vertical plane for disposing the table in a collapsed position of adjustment.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,942,603 1/1934 Johnson 108119 2,871,075 1/1959 Stone 108119 2,957,736 10/1960 Olander 108119 X 3,017,034 1/1962 Elein 108119 X 3,080,202 3/1963 Franzene 108119 X 3,103,900 9/1963 Lippman 108-119 3,139,845 7/1964 Kolinski 1081l9 3,207,093 10/1965 Block 108-119 X DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

G. O. FINCH, A ssislalll Examiner. 

1. A TRAY TABLE COMPRISING A FIRST FRAME HAVING A PAIR OF LEGS INTERCONNECTED AT THEIR UPPER ENDS BY A TRANSVERSE BIGHT, A SECOND FRAME HAVING A PAIR OF LEGS DISPOSED LATERALLY OUTWARDLY OF THE LEGS ON SAID FIRST FRAME AND INTERCONNECTED AT THEIR UPPER ENDS BY A TRANSVERSE BIGHT, A TRAY REMOVABLY MOUNTED ON THE BIGHTS ON SAID FRAMES, MEANS PIVOTALLY INTERCONNECTING THE LEGS ON SAID FRAMES ON A TRANSVERSE AXIS, THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID MEANS AND THE UPPER FACE OF THE BIGHT ON SAID FIRST FRAME BEING LESS THAN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID MEANS AND THE LOWER FACE OF THE BIGHT ON SAID SECOND FRAME, AND THE LEGS ON SAID FRAMES BEING CURVED IN THE SAME DIRECTION BELOW SAID MEANS. 